Low cost and low power automatic liquid dispensers

ABSTRACT

Exemplary embodiments of dispensers for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump are disclosed herein. Some embodiments include a plurality of rollers that rotate about a common axis to compress a dome pump and a holder for holding a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump. During operation, when a refill unit is located within the holder, rotation of the rollers about the common axis causes a roller to compress the resilient dome pump as the roller passes over the resilient dome pump to dispense liquid, and the resilient dome pump expands to its original position once the roller passes to draw in liquid.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional utility patent application claims priority to and the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/714,264 filed on Oct. 16, 2012, and entitled LOW COST AND LOW POWER AUTOMATIC LIQUID DISPENSERS. This application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to dispensers and more particularly to low cost and low power electronic automatic dispensers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Liquid dispenser systems, such as liquid soap and sanitizer dispensers, provide a user with a predetermined amount of liquid upon actuation of the dispenser. As a general matter, it is usually preferable to reduce the space taken up by the pumping within the overall dispenser system and to reduce the energy required to operate the dispenser to increase battery life for electronically activated dispensers.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of dispensers for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump are disclosed herein. Some embodiments include a plurality of rollers that rotate about a common axis to compress a dome pump and a holder for holding a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump. During operation, when a refill unit is located within the holder, rotation of the rollers about the common axis causes a roller to compress the resilient dome pump as the roller passes over the resilient dome pump to dispense liquid and the resilient dome pump expands to its original position once the roller passes to draw in liquid.

Additional embodiments may include a plurality of rollers that rotate about a common axis and a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump. The refill unit is located in the dispenser such that rotation of the rollers about the common axis causes the rollers to compress the resilient dome pump as each roller passes over the resilient dome pump and the resilient dome pump expands to its original position once the roller passes.

Other embodiments may include a dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump. These embodiments include a plurality of rollers that rotate about a common axis, a holder for holding a refill unit having a container, a resilient dome pump and an intermediary plate configured to be moved by the rollers as the rollers rotate. When a refill unit is located within the holder, movement of the intermediary plate by the rollers causes the resilient dome to compress and pump a liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a prior art refill unit having a dome pump;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an exemplary dispenser 200 with its front cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an exemplary dispenser 200 with its front cover removed and refill unit 100 installed;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section of the exemplary dispenser 200; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section of another exemplary dispenser 500.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art refill unit 100. The prior art refill unit 100 includes a collapsible container 120 and a dome pump 140. Dome pump 140 includes an outlet nozzle 160. Prior art refill unit 100 is a common refill unit for soap dispensers. Disposable refill units may contain a supply of a liquid. In various embodiments, the contained liquid could be for example a soap, a sanitizer, a cleanser, a disinfectant or some other liquid. In some embodiments, described in more detail below, the liquid may be foamable. The container may be a collapsible container and can be made of thin plastic or a flexible bag-like material. In other embodiments, the container may be formed by a rigid housing member, or have any other suitable configuration for containing the foamable liquid without leaking.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of an exemplary low-cost, low-power electronic dispenser 200 for prior art refill unit 100. The housing 202 of the dispenser 200 contains one or more actuating members (not shown) to activate the pump 140. As used herein, actuator or actuating members or mechanisms include one or more parts that cause the dispenser 200 to move liquid, air or foam. An actuator is not illustrated herein because there are many different kinds of pump actuators which may be employed in the dispenser 200. The actuator of the dispenser 200 may be any type of actuator such as, for example, a manual lever, a manual pull bar, a manual push bar, a manual rotatable crank, an electrically activated actuator or other means for actuating the pump 140. In a preferred embodiment, an electronic actuator is used and includes sensor 220 to provide for a hands-free dispenser system with touchless operation.

Dispenser 200 may be wall mounted, mounted on a stand or free standing. The front housing (not shown) of exemplary dispenser 200 has been removed for purposes of clarity. Any front housing structure may be used including a front housing that contains a window so that a user may see whether the dispenser 200 contains liquid or whether the dispenser 200 is empty. Dispenser 200 includes a rear housing 202. Secured to rear housing 202 is a motor 208, a drive gear set 210 and a plurality of rollers 206 rotatably secured to first and second plates 204, 205.

The plates 204 and 205 rotate about a central axis. The rollers 206 are rotatably mounted to plates 204 and 205 and also rotate about the common central axis. In addition, in some embodiments, each roller 206 rotates about its own central axis. The gearing 210 and plates 204, 205 are secured to the housing 202 by support members (not shown for purposes of clarity). In addition, housing 202 includes a sensor 220. Sensor 220 monitors the area below and/or in front of the dispenser 200 to determine whether an object such as, for example, a hand is present. In addition, housing 202 includes a power circuit 230 that may include batteries and a circuit board to control operation of dispenser 200.

FIG. 3 is a prospective view of dispenser 200 with a refill unit 100 installed therein. Refill unit 100 may be held in place by any means (not shown) such as, for example, a receptacle, a cage, a bracket, a strap or the like. Preferably, refill unit 100 slides downward into a receptacle and may be removed by tilting the refill unit 100 outward and lifting it upward. Dome pump 140 aligns with the plurality of rollers 206.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary dispenser 200 without refill unit 100 installed in the dispenser 200. As can be best seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, during operation when an object (not shown) is detected by sensor 220, control circuitry 230 provides power to motor 208 causing motor 208 to rotate and move gear train 210. Gear train 210 causes upper plate 204 and lower plate 205 to rotate about center point C. As upper plate 204 and lower plate 205 rotate, rollers 206 pass over and depress the dome of dome pump 140. Depressing the dome of dome pump 140 causes the contents of dome pump 140 to be expelled out of nozzle 160. Once a roller 206 passes the dome of dome pump 140, the dome expands and refills the dome pump 140. After one or more compressions of the dome pump 140, the motor 208 is stopped. A sensor (not shown) may be used to stop motor 208 when rollers 206 are positioned off of the dome of dome pump 140. Rotation of rollers 206 to compress the dome of dome pump 140 utilizes less energy than is required to directly compress the dome with an actuator, such as a plunger.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary cross-section of a dispenser 500 that is similar to dispenser 200. Dispenser 500 includes a movable plate 520 that is secured to the dispenser by a hinge 522. When a refill unit 100 is installed in dispenser 500, movable plate 520 prevents rollers 506 from contacting the dome of dome pump 140. Rather, as rollers 506 rotate around center point C, the rollers 506 strike movable plate 520 which depresses the dome of dome pump 140. Utilizing movable plate 520 to compress dome pump 140 allows the rollers 506 to compress dome pump 140 more efficiently and with less force, which reduces the energy consumption even further. In addition, the stress on the dome of dome pump 140 is reduced.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Moreover, elements described with one embodiment may be readily adapted for use with other embodiments. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, the representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicants' general inventive concept. 

We claim:
 1. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump comprising: a plurality of rollers that rotate about a substantially common axis; a holder for holding a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump; wherein when a refill unit is located within the holder, rotation of the rollers about the common axis causes a roller to compress the resilient dome pump as the roller passes over the resilient dome pump, and the resilient dome pump expands to its original position once the roller passes.
 2. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump of claim 1 further comprising an intermediary plate located at least partially between the resilient dome pump and the rollers when the rollers pass over the resilient dome pump.
 3. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump of claim 2 wherein a portion of the intermediary plate is connected to the dispenser by a hinge.
 4. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump of claim 1 wherein the common axis is a vertical axis.
 5. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump of claim 1 wherein each roller also rotates about its own central axis.
 6. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump of claim 1 further comprising a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump.
 7. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump of claim 1 further comprising a direct current motor and gearing configured to move the rollers about the central axis.
 8. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump of claim 6 further comprising an intermediary plate located at least partially between the resilient dome pump and the rollers when the rollers pass over the dome pump.
 9. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid comprising: a plurality of rollers that rotate about a common axis; a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump; wherein the refill unit is located in the dispenser such that rotation of the rollers about the common axis causes the rollers to compress the resilient dome pump as each roller passes over the resilient dome pump and the resilient dome pump expands to its original position once the roller passes.
 10. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid of claim 9 further comprising an intermediary plate located at least partially between the resilient dome pump and the rollers.
 11. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid of claim 10 wherein a portion of the intermediary plate is connected to the dispenser by a hinge.
 12. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid of claim 9 wherein the common axis is vertical.
 13. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid of claim 9 wherein each roller also rotates about its own central axis.
 14. The dispenser for dispensing a liquid of claim 9 further comprising a direct current motor and gearing to move the rollers about the central axis.
 15. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump comprising: a plurality of rollers that rotate about a common axis; a holder for holding a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump; an intermediary plate configured to be moved by the rollers as the rollers rotate; wherein when a refill unit is located within the holder and movement of the intermediary plate by the rollers causes the resilient dome to compress and pump a liquid.
 16. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein the common axis is a vertical axis.
 17. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein each roller also rotates about its own central axis.
 18. The dispenser of claim 15 further comprising a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump.
 19. The dispenser of claim 15 further comprising a direct current motor and gearing to move the rollers about the central axis.
 20. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein the intermediary plate is connected to the dispenser by a hinge. 